What do you feel were the main trends and key industry developments in 2022?
Seaber: 2022 has been a mixed year for many with everything that has happened, but I believe the printing industry has shown remarkable resilience, especially with increasing energy and paper costs. There has been an accelerated uptake and investment in digital printing, particularly inkjet printing - cutsheet B3/B2 and high-speed continuous feed inkjet, and digital finishing and binding with more automation, connectivity to third-party hardware and software and more interest in technology to reduce or eliminate manual touchpoints, such as AGVs and the integration of robotics.

How have the numerous economic, political, and supply chain challenges that have dominated 2022 affected you and your customers, and how have you had to react?
Seaber: Supply chains from all our partner manufacturers have been disrupted through 2022 and, generally, our customers understand this and plan further ahead due to longer than normal lead times. We have had more regular discussions with our partner manufacturers, logistics suppliers and customers to keep all parties updated and this enhanced communication has worked very well for everyone involved. Supply chains across the board are slowly improving now and I predict these will become more stable during the second half of 2023.

How have your relationships with customers and their expectations from you as a supplier changed in the past 12 months? 
Keane: For certain our relationships at IFS with customers have become stronger over the last 12 months, with even more frequent and engaging conversations about plans for investment in print finishing technology, innovation and automation and investment discussion in general. Maybe it’s a post-pandemic factor but for sure people do simply seem to have more time for each other, are more patient and more attentive.

Seaber: Our relationship with our customers has become stronger and closer during 2022 as we both understand and accept that supply chains are more fragmented than normal and we work together to find the best way forward. We have also learned that most customers will wait longer than normal for the best technology investments as they see these as long term investments.

What do you expect to be the main trends, key industry developments, and biggest opportunities for printers in 2023?
Seaber: In October 2022 we held a two-day event at our Hemel Hempstead showroom called finish+bind360 which proved to be very successful. finish+bind360 was focused on short to medium run soft-cover perfect bound book production from start to finish with Horizon iCE LiNK bindery control system. Horizon iCE LiNK Enterprise subscription is currently available free of charge for three years to new and existing IFS Horizon customers. Soft-cover books sales grew by 7% in 2022 and this trend is expected to continue in 2023. In 2023 and beyond, I believe small, medium and large printing companies would benefit from investment in these areas alongside digital inkjet printers – cutsheet and continuous feed.

How can suppliers better help printers navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities in 2023?
Seaber: At IFS we always focus on finishing first and work backwards as this is the most logical way to help our customers make the right investments for their company or organisation. End-to-end manufacturing is key, no matter what size printing company or organisation you are. You will always be as efficient as your slowest manufacturing process and at IFS we help customers to identify these areas and way to make improvements with the right technology investments.

Keane: Jason is right, at IFS we do adopt a ‘consultative’ approach to help customers see how they can improve their productivity through more efficient finishing workflow, supported by credible ROI.

How can suppliers do more to promote the effectiveness of print to the broader business community?
Seaber: Print is still by far the most effective and engaging way to communicate your messages and to start a conversation with the potential of winning new customers. The best way, in our experience, is to have, and use, a blended approach and mix your key marketing and product messages through different channels including print, social media and online.

Keane: Print is still a very powerful medium in the marketing mix available for all businesses, but the printing industry really needs to go more on the front foot in promoting its modern-day print products, its flexibility, its effectiveness. I do fear that too often print is talking to itself about its importance and should be more focused externally to wider industry.

Note: This prediction is taken from a special Briefing article in the new issue of Printweek featuring insights from industry suppliers, hence it does not follow the same question template as the other predictions.